Nov. 28-2: Portland Holiday Ale Festival, Portland, OR

The Oregon Brewers Guild presents the 2012 Portland Holiday Ale Festival, which will take place downtown in Pioneer Square. Recent festivals have featured 50 strong ales including Imperial IPAs, barleywines, winter warmers, and Scotch ales. The venue itself is heated, contains one of the region's largest decorated Christmas trees, and has a clear tent that allows views of the city lights. The festivities also include a "Beer and Brunch" event on Sunday.

Nov. 30-1: Towcester Winter Beer Festival, Towcester, England

The inaugural Towcester Winter Beer Festival will be held at the Towcester Racecourse. This two-day event, which coincides with the racecourse's annual pre-Christmas meet, will feature 30 Real Ales and 10 Real Ciders, along with live music. There will be National Hunt horse racing in the afternoon, and a "Most Marvellous" Christmas market on Saturday.

1: 12 South Winter Warmer, Nashville, TN

Midtown Wine & Spirits presents the second annual 12 South Winter Warmer, which organizers describe as "Nashville's first and only winter beer festival." This tented afternoon event will take place at Sevier Park. There will be beer from more than 25 breweries, most of them from the South, along with live music from Halfbrass and food from local restaurants. Part of the proceeds will go to The Oasis Center.

1: BevMo! Holiday Beerfest, Los Angeles, CA

The Night That Never Ends presents the inaugural Los Angeles edition of the BevMo! Holiday Beerfest, which will take place at the Golden Road Brewery. This afternoon event will feature more than 200 holiday, seasonal, and special beers from over 100 breweries from around the world; a selection of ciders; live music; and food for purchase. VIP tickets, with early admission and complimentary beer snacks, are available.

8: Haddenham Winter Real Ale Festival, Haddenham, England

The winter 2012 Haddenham Real Ale Festival will be held at the Village Hall complex in Haddenham. Recent editions of this festival have featured more than 25 Real Ales, along with ciders and mulled wines; marquees in case of inclement weather; Christmas Fayre Stalls selling a wide range of food and Christmas gifts; and entertainment.

5-8: Harwich & Dovercourt Winter Ale Festival, Dovercourt, England

The Tendring Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 11th annual Harwich & Dovercourt Winter Ale Festival, which will take place at the Kingsway Hall in Dovercourt. This year's festival (theme to be announced) will feature more than 50 Real Ales, along with ciders and bottled continental beers. This year's lineup will emphasize imperial stouts. Food will be available, and there will be live music Friday and Saturday evenings.

7-8: Phoenix Brewers Invitational, Phoenix, AZ

HDE Agency presents the Phoenix Brewers Invitational, "Get Crafty 2012," which will take place downtown at the Phoenix Heritage & Science Park. This two-day event will feature beer from more than 60 craft breweries, live entertainment, beer-related vendors, beer memorabilia, homebrewing demonstrations, and some of Arizona’s best food trucks. VIP tickets, with admission to the preview party the evening before the festival, an exclusive meet-and-greet with brewers, and catered food, are available. The festival is a benefit for the Beer for Brains Foundation.

8: The Big Brew Beer Festival--Holiday Festival, Somerset, NJ

The Big Brew Beer Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, December 8th at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ is being rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy. Event organizers feel this is an appropriate course of action due to ongoing relief and recovery efforts in the State of New Jersey. Here is the new information:

All previously purchased tickets will be honored at the 2/16 event or refunds are available.

The Holiday Festival edition of the Big Brew Beer Festival will take place at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset. This evening event will feature more than 100 craft beers from around the country, with an emphasis on holiday and winter ales; live music by The Nerds; food for purchase; and games. VIP tickets, with early admission, hors d'oeuvres, and access to the VIP lounge, are available.

8: Smugglers' Notch Brewfest, Part 1, Jeffersonville, VT

Smugglers' Notch, a ski resort located in Jeffersonville, will host Part 1 of its 18th annual Brewfest. This evening event, to be held in the Meeting House, will feature local and regional beers and wines, appetizers from the resort's Mountain Grille, a DJ, and prizes.

8: Valley Forge Beer Festival, Oaks, PA

Starfish Junction and BeerHeads.com present the second annual Valley Forge Beer Festival, which will take place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with more than 100 beers from 50 local, national, and foreign breweries. There will be an educational program led by experts on beer, and food will be available for purchase. This year's festival charity is the Committee to Benefit the Children.

12: The Big Sip Expo, Greensboro, NC

The Big Sip will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion. This first-ever event will offer attendees an opportunity to sample beer, wine and spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The Big Sip Expo will consist of two tasting sessions: the Connoisseur Expo, which includes homebrewing and coffee-making demonstrations; followed by the General Public Expo, at which there will be live music. The festivities will also include the Big Sip Cup, a professionally-judged competition in a number of beverage categories. The Big Sip will benefit “Be The Miracle Network” a local non-profit organization.

12: Stone Epic Festival: The Final Chapter, Escondido, CA

Stone Brewing Company presents the Stone Epic Festival: The Final Chapter, which will be held at the brewery's World Bistro & Gardens. This Wednesday event, which runs from 12:12 to 9pm, will celebrate the 11-year history of Stone Epic Vertical Ale. The 11 vintages, from 02.02.02 to 12.12.12, will be paired with a small-plate dishes prepared to pair with them.

13-17: Portcullis Christmas Beer Fest, Clifton Village, England

The Portcullis, a public house in Clifton Village, will host a Christmas Beer Fest. The lineup will include more than 20 ales and ciders, including rare and special beers. Food will be available.

14-16: St John's Winter Beer Fest, Portland, OR

Plew's Brews, a beer bar in Portland, will host the second annual St John's Winter Beer Fest. This three-day event, presented together with Oakshire Brewing and Thurston Beervents, will feature a variety of Belgian-style beers, stouts, winter ales, and barleywines. There will also be food from Plew's Brews' kitchen and Tim the Sausage Guy.

15: Fisch-mas, Chicago, IL

Fischman Liquors & Tavern, located on Chicago's north side, will host Fisch-mas. This five-hour afternoon event will feature a variety of seasonal beers on draft, including hard-to-find beers. The Wagyu Wagon will be grilling burgers; and there will be live jazz, a glass-blowing demonstration using old beer bottles, and raffles and prizes.

15-16: Kerstbierfestival, Essen, Belgium

The Objective Beer Tasters of the Essen Region present the 2012 Kerstbierfestival, which will take place at Heuvelhal in Essen. The festival's name, in English, is "Christmas Beer Festival." Recent editions have featured more than 100 Belgian Christmas and winter beers, including 12 to 16 on draft, along with hot Gluhkriek, soup, beef stew, and bread prepared with Christmas beer.

22: Axminster Christmas Beer Festival, Axminster, England

The inaugural Axminster Christmas Beer Festival will be held at the Axminster Guildhall. This all-day event will feature beers from area microbreweries, along with locally-made cider; live bands, followed by a DJ; and hot food for purchase. Admission is free.